Category Archives: Obituaries

Peggy Sue Schmidt, age 59 of Yankton passed away unexpectedly at her home Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017.

Mass of Christian burial was held 10:30 a.m. Dec. 22 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton with Rev. Larry Regynski officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will take place at a later date.

On line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Peggy was born June 3, 1958 in Colome, SD to Charles and Pauline (Leibel) Elliott. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Isidore in Colome Peggy married Steve Schmidt. She worked at the Human Services Center for about five years.

Peggy is survived by sons, Eric (Brandie) Schmidt of Boise, ID and Jeffrey (Jessica) Schmidt of Gregory, SD; daughter, Stephanie (Jared) Schwans of Yankton, SD; former spouce, Steve Schmidt of Yankton, SD; grandchildren: Evan, Ella and Read and brothers: Charlie Elliott of Bellevue, NE, Ernie Elliott of Inver Grove Heights, MN and Donald Elliott of Keokuk, IA.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Pauline and sisters, Carol and Mary Lou.

Magdalene “Megs” Doescher, age 87, of Tea, formally of Winner, passed away on Dec. 19, 2017.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday Dec. 28, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will follow at the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27 at the United Methodist Church in Winner with a Prayer Service starting at 7 p.m.

Megs was born in Cumming County Nebraska, on Dec. 23, 1929, to Hank and Hilda Heinecke (Baer). She was the oldest of 6 children: Dave (Jane), Virgil (Barb), Carolyn (Jim), and Shirley, with one surviving brother, Butch (Joyce) of Tracy, CA. Her parents were first born citizens; with their families immigrating from Europe to Illinois just before the turn of the century. Megs attended Wisner, NE public schools.

In 1948, Magdalene married Richard Leroy Doescher. They made their home across north central Nebraska, South Dakota and Northwest Iowa. They retired to Sioux Falls shortly after Richard suffered a debilitating stroke in 1990.

Megs was a proud housewife and mother, held varying positions of church secretary to retail. She was a past active Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Member, and taught Adult Christian learning throughout a substantial span of her life. She volunteered later in life while living in Sioux Falls at the Washington Pavilion and was named Pavilion Volunteer of the Year in 2012 along with holding a RSVP Volunteer for 25 years.

Megs thoroughly loved to sew, crochet and especially quilt. Her passion for crafts is readily apparent in several of her children and grandchildren. Known as the quilt lady, her motto of life was, “when life gives you scraps, make a quilt.” Those are words she lived by her whole life, having grown up in the depression era, there was never anything wasted in the Doescher home.
With Magdalene and Richard’s marriage, they have 4 sons and 4 daughters Rose (Joe, deceased in 2010) Enders Jenison, MI; Rick (Bev) Champaign, Ill; Randy (Linda), formerly from Mitchell, SD; Ronda (Harlan) Hanson, O’Neil, NE; Judy (Jack) Arthur Winner, SD; Cheryl of Sioux Falls, SD; Tom of Des Moines, IA; and Chris (Lisa) of Tea, SD. In addition to Megs and Dick’s children, she was blessed with 19 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and many friends that Megs so enjoyed her time with having tea parties.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, both parents, and siblings: Dave, Virgil, Carolyn, and Shirley.

Megs learned to enjoy life after Dick’s death with her large trust of friends that spanned her entire life. She passed with a sense of fulfillment in her life, enjoying every minute right up to the last minutes baking and decorating Christmas cookies.

Funeral services for Dorothea Mae Newman, 82, were held Oct. 25 at Christ Community Church in Omaha, Neb. Burial was in the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Omaha.

Newman died Oct. 20 at Hospice House in Omaha.

She was born in Gregory and grew up on a ranch. She graduated from Winner High School in 1953 and attended Black Hills Teacher College in Spearfish and then established the first kindergarten in Chamberlain.

In 1957, she married Alfred A. Newman Jr and they moved to Lincoln, Neb. where Dorothea taught kindergarten and went to UNL in Lincoln earning her bachelor of education degree. She also taught in Grand Island, North Loup-Scotia, Neb. and Esterville, Iowa, where she completed her 35th year of teaching and retired in 1995.

She is survived by her husband, Alfred A. Newman Jr.; son, Barry (Deb) Newman; daughter, Cherilyn Wicks(Jerry); six grandchildren: Matt Newman (Taylor); Kelsey Schiltz (Adam); Jordan Newman, Ben Wicks (Anna); Andrew and Jacob Wicks; grand grandson Hudson Newman; sister, Marilyn McCormick (Keith); brother, John Jones (Mary); sister in law Ruth Jones, many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Leona Jones, sister, Mable Powell (Johnnie); brother, Wilmer Jones; brother in law, Richard Snow; sister in law Janice Jones.

Dorothea will always be remembered for her great love of God, family and country.

Ed Habeger of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away at his residence on Sept. 25 at the age of 74.

Cremation arrangements were entrusted to the Cremation Society of Alaska. There will be a celebration of life in honor of Ed in Alaska Minnesota this summer, later dates to be announced.

Ed was born Dec. 23, 1943. He grew up in Garden City, Minn., son of the late Edwood “Woody” and Lucille Habeger (Zuhlsdorf) of Winnebago Minn.

Ed’s siblings are Sandy Jaeger (Husband Arlo) of Garden City, Minn.; Carol Rollings (husband Michael) of Dalton, Neb; Wes Habeger (wife Paula) of Duluth, Minn., and several nieces and nephews.

Ed’s greatest love was the outdoors. He was a devoted hunter, fisherman, world wide traveler and lived his life to the fullest.
Ed graduated from Garden City Welcome Memorial High School in 1960. He was known to be quite a prankster which carried throughout his life. Alias “Eddie Haskell” of the neighborhood from the TV show “Leave It to Beaver.”

He loved his country and served four years in the USAF. He was a member of the home of the Air Force special operations command at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Ed belonged to a parachute club. He actually parachuted into our town football field during halftime.

Ed worked for and retired from Anchorage Northwest Orient (BONG) Airlines as a chief in the freight department/airline ground support.

Ed had many great qualities—humor, helpful, talent, artistic ability, tardiness, letter writing and a great storyteller. Many wished he would have written books about all of his outdoor activities.

So until we meet again big brother, happy hunting, fishing and happy birthday. We will miss you.

Maxie Nelson, 82, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family. A private family service is being held.

Her journey began on Jan. 30, 1935

She grew up in Winner, South Dakota with her brothers Jody and Tom, and her beloved sisters – Ruth, Marcia and Linda.
On May 1, 1954, Maxie was united in marriage with Richard J. Nelson. Maxie was a loving, wonderful mother to her children – Michael, Roxanne, Ruth, Scott and infant son, Timothy.

Bowling, traveling, playing cards, music, gardening, dancing (especially in the kitchen), enjoying a glass of wine and visiting brought Maxie unending joy.

She loved nothing more than spending time with her family and slipping coins into a slot machine with her sisters at her side.

Maxie had a quick wit and the only thing better than her sense of style was her sense of humor.

The greatest joys of Maxie’s life were her grandchildren -Amber, Erica, Kelsey, Grant, Calli, Kristine and Richard and her great-grandchildren – Chloe, Ayden, Graysen and Brody.

Maxie was truly one of a kind…and we will miss her forever.

Maxie went to the Lord on Nov. 25, 2017

Suzanne Huber was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on Feb. 24, 1933 to William and Rose (Raymond) Sonneville. She lived in Michigan most of her life until she moved to Winter Haven, Florida to keep warm. It was there she was dubbed, “The Florida Flower.” She lived in Florida for 13 years before moving back to Michigan to be with her daughter Susan after her stroke in 2012. She then came to Winner, SD to be near her son Dan and daughter in-law Anna. She moved into the Winner Regional Nursing Home and lived there for almost 2 years. She then was able to move into the Golden Prairie Manor and lived there for almost 3 years. She loved the Manor and everyone there was like family to her.

Suzanne was married to her first husband, Donald Rowe, when she was 19. She was 7 months pregnant with her daughter Susan Kay Rowe when her husband was tragically killed in a car accident. She then met and married her second husband, K. Charles Nesseth, when she was 22. And to this union they had Daniel Charles Nesseth. She then met and married Richard R. Huber in December 1981. They lived in Winter Haven, FL until 2012. She loved her life with her friends in Florida. She taught water aerobics every morning in her retirement home. Her famous statement was, “we are all finely tuned machines.”

Suzanne was a majorette in high school. She had 6 very close friends that to this day she kept in contact with. In her early adulthood she was a property manager for seniors. In her later adult life, she helped take care of her mother. She was a loving and caring person.

Suzanne loved life. Everywhere she went, she made friends. She was a master seamstress. She enjoyed making clothes for all her family members, especially when her kids started having children. She loved being able to spend time with her grandchildren, and was always wanting to share her love of sewing with her grandchildren.

Suzanne is survived by her daughter Susan Wohlfert, Kalamazoo, MI. Her children Jonathan Wohlfert (Heather Brule), Portland, OR, and Jessy Rose Belen (Sam), Vicksburg, MI and great grandchildren, Carter and Autumn Rose. Her son Dan Nesseth (Anna) Winner, SD. Their children Sara Swartz (Travis), Rapid City, SD, Lisa Spreckels (Adam), Winner, SD, Katie Campbell (Trevor), of Rapid City, SD, and great grandchildren Brynlee and Maylee. Her brother William Sonneville (Audrey) of Winter Haven, FL. Her nieces Billie Jean Lopez (Jeff), Fairbanks, AK, her children, Jennifer, Josh and Angela, and Sherry Sun (Jim) of Plant City, Florida and their children Samantha and Michael.

She is preceded in death by all 3 of her husbands, and her parents William and Rose Sonneville.

Arlene Fern Meiners was born April 11, 1921 to Henry and Emilia (Marohn) Meiners at Lamar, NE. She was baptized in the Lutheran Church at Amherst, CO in 1921. The family moved to the Millboro/Clearfield area in SD and lived in a sod house for a while. Arlene was confirmed in the Jerusalem Lutheran Church near Carter, SD. She went to high school in the Millboro Church basement and graduated with salutatorian honors.

Arlene married Joseph Kostal in Rapid City in the Little Brown Church in 1939. To this union three children were born: LaVonne, Dianne, and Dwain. They lived on a farm west of Colome. Arlene worked at Pamida for over 25 years.

Joe died in 1985. Arlene married Henry Fuhrman in 2000.

Arlene passed away Nov. 18, 2017 at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center at the age of 96.

Arlene is survived by her two daughters, LaVonne Harter of Colome, SD, and Dianne (Bill) Harter of Winner, SD: five grandchildren Don (Sue) Harter, Gillette, WY, Rick (Peggy) Harter, Albuquerque, NM, Tami Harter, Rock Springs, WY, Brad (Jennifer) Harter, Sedan, KS, and Dustin (Amanda) Harter, Baltic, SD; ten great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Emelia Meiners, husbands Joe Kostal and Henry Fuhrman, son Dwain Kostal, brother Henry Meiners Jr, son-in-law James Harter, and foster sons Marvin and LeRoy Gustavson.

Edna L. Winckler, age 94, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2017 at Riverview Reformed Church in Yankton with Reverend Rodney Veldhuizen officiating. Burial was in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton.
Pallbearers are her grandsons: Steve Bender, Tom Winckler, Paul Dangel, Kelly Dangel, Mark Winckler, Randy Winckler, James Bender and Glenn Winckler. Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren.

Edna was born Sept. 3, 1923, south of Delmont, South Dakota in Charles Mix County, to Andrew Sr. and Katherine (Gramm) Fischer. She was the youngest of 12 children and the last Fischer of her generation. She was baptized and confirmed in Frieden’s Reformed Church of Tripp. She attended country school and completed her freshman year at Tripp, South Dakota. On June 28, 1941, Edna married Hubert Winckler in Tripp. They farmed for 26 years north of Tyndall, SD. She also worked at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, M-Tron Industries in Yankton and finally at Colonial Square Apartments in Yankton for 22 years. Edna was a member of Riverview Reformed Church in Yankton and a life member of the VFW Auxiliary Post No. 791 of Yankton. Edna loved playing cards, especially pinochle and whist, as well as playing marbles with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed doing embroidery work on dish towels. Above all, Edna loved family gatherings and providing a meal for them. “Come and let’s eat.” was one of her favorite sayings.

Edna is survived by two daughters: Norma (Robert) Bender of St. Helena, NE and Arla (LaVerne) Dangel of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; six sons: Joewayne (Elaine) of Mesa, AZ, Myron (Barbara) of Winner, SD, Jarvis (Marilyn) of Avon, SD, David (Sue) of Vermillion, SD, Merlin (Lisa) of Collinsville, VA; and Larry (Barbie) of Bruceton Mills, WV; 25 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Bernard (Sophia) Winckler of Tyndall; and many, many nieces and nephews.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hubert on June 17, 1995; son, Leland; one sister and ten brothers.

The family would prefer memorials to be directed to Avera@Home, 501 Summit St. in Yankton, SD 57078 for the excellent care she received.

John Ben Powell born on Nov. 13, 1947, in Winner, SD. He was the son of Hazel (Merchen) and David J Powell, who farmed in rural Tripp County in South Dakota.

John was a hard worker who loved to shoot the breeze with anyone. He was known for coming and going as he pleased with or without warning. He spent long hours on the road driving truck, but liked to tinker around in his garage. Camping, hunting, and fishing had always been his hobbies of choice. Those who went with, always came back saying that it had been quite the adventure. If you went out on a boat with him, it was always a good idea to bring an extra paddle along.

John passed away in his sleep early on Nov. 17, 2017, due to complications caused by cancer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and his brother, David L Powell.

Those left to celebrate and honor his life are his three daughters Mandy Parks (Phil), Laurie Fisher, Sarah Powell, his step children Brandon Collins and Shannon Roberts (Nate), his 11 grandchildren, his brothers and sisters; Betty Lund, Don Powell, Rose Songer, Darlene Determan, and Richard Powell, as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Kenneth Dvorak, 64, of Ft. Pierre, passed away as a result of an automobile accident Nov. 6, 2017 in Sioux Falls.

A memorial visitation was held from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1st United Methodist Church, Pierre. A private interment followed. Condolences may be made to the family at isburgfuneralchapels.com.

Kenneth Ray Dvorak was born Nov. 11, 1952, in Winner, SD, to John and Barbara (Walters) Dvorak. He grew up near Carter and Winner, where he was part of the Boy Scouts, attending and later graduating from Winner High School. Kenneth also attended Watertown Vocational Tech for a year. He lived in the Winner area until 1975 when he moved to Ft. Pierre.

Kenneth worked for a time at the Y.M.C.A., the Ft. Pierre Youth Center and the State Library. He was a member of the N.R.A., and enjoyed reading, watching movies and spending time with family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Kenneth is survived by his sister, Lois (Myron) Docken, Pierre, and Ed (Pat) Dvorak, West Linn, OR, along with 2 nieces and 2 nephews.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents.